Elastic hand and digit exercise device

ABSTRACT

A hand and digit exercise device having a core section of elastic material surrounding and defining an open space, a plurality of elastic finger loops separate from and disposed about said core section and sized to receive digits of a hand and an elastic connection arm extending between each of said finger loops and said core section whereby said finger loops are attached to said core section at various location around the open space in the core section.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention broadly relates to devices for exercising hands and theirdigits (fingers).

People who use their hands for prolonged periods on repetitive tasks,such as operating computers, writing, etc., can develop repetitivestress injuries (RSI). A form of therapy that has been used to combatRSI comprises stretching a conventional thick rubber band between two ormore fingers and repeatedly spreading the fingers against the tension ofthe rubber band. However, a rubber band is difficult to use because itssimple loop provides limited options for exercises. A simple rubber bandalso tends to slip from its initial position when the digits arerepeatedly spread apart.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a finger exercise device having a coresection of elastic material surrounding and defining an open space, aplurality of elastic finger loops separate from and disposed about thecore section and sized to receive digits of a hand and an elasticconnection arm extending between each of the finger loops and the coresection whereby the finger loops are attached to the core section.

While described by its component parts, the present invention is mostadvantageously formed into a single unified piece of elastomericmaterial by a molding process, as is well known in the art.

The exercise device of the present invention permits a variety ofdifferent exercises to be performed using two or more digits of a handwhereby a multiplicity of hand and digit maladies can be addressed witha single device by repeatedly spreading apart the digits in the fingerloops against the tension of the loops, arms and core. The core can becylindrical in shape with a varying height wherein opposing ends of thecore are wider than the intermediate portions for improved grip andcomfort on inserted digits.

The foregoing and other embodiments, features and advantages of theinvention will be more readily understood upon consideration of thefollowing detailed description of the invention taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view of one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the invention of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line A-A of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line B-B of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of an alternative embodiment of the inventionwherein the finger loops are equally spaced about the core;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of yet another embodiment of my invention whereinthe core section has an elliptical shape;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the invention of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along the lines A-A of FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along the line of B-B of FIG. 7;

FIG. 11 is a plan view of yet another embodiment of my invention whereinthe central core has a web member;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the invention of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a sectional view taken along the line A-A of FIG. 11; and

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of another embodiment of my inventionhaving a core section opening not large enough to receive digits of ahand.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1-4, a preferred embodiment of an elastic hand anddigit exercise device 11 of the present invention includes a coresection 12 of elastic material surrounding and defining an open space 13large enough to receive two or more digits of a hand (not shown). Thecore section 12 is elastic enough to be stretchable by the separation oftwo or more digits within the space 13.

A plurality of elastic finger loops 14 are separate from and disposedabout the core section 12 and sized to receive a digit of a hand. Anelastic connection arm 16 extends between each finger loop 14 and coresection 12 whereby the finger loops 14 are attached to the core section12. In one embodiment, the connecting arms 16 have a generallyrectangular cross-section (see FIG. 4), but with rounded corners 16 a toprevent tearing when stressed.

In its relaxed condition (no forces applied to it), core section 12 hasa generally cylindrical shape with a generally circular cross-section.

As best illustrated in FIG. 2, the generally cylindrical-shaped coresection 12 has opposing wall sections 12 a and 12 b that have a greaterheight than the intermediate wall sections 12 c and 12 d. Wall sections12 a and 12 b provide a comfortable and secure location for two digitsinserted into space 13 to apply force on the core section 12 inperforming an exercise, while the reduced height wall sections 12 c and12 d allow the core section 12 to be stretchable by the separation ofdigits in space 13. By having a non-uniform height, core section 12 hasan elasticity that is non-isotropic.

The relaxed state of the finger loops 14 is generally elliptical, whichpermits the loops 14 to secure digits of varying sizes and, at the sametime, prevent the loops 14 from sliding off of the initial position onthe digits while exercises are being performed. The sections 14 a of theloops 14 distal from the core section 12 are of greater height than thesections 14 b closer to connecting arm 16, whereby digits inserted intothe loops 14 have a comfortable location at which to apply pressureduring exercises.

A pull tab 17 can be advantageously secured to the outboard end of eachfinger loop 14 to assist in placing the loop over a digit or removing ittherefrom.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 1-4, there are four finger loops 14 securedat locations along one-half of the circumference of the core section 12and a fifth finger loop 14 disposed at a location on the other half ofthe perimeter of the core section 12. In one embodiment of theinvention, the four finger loops 14 disposed about one-half of theperimeter are equally spaced from each other and the fifth loop 14 onthe other half of the perimeter is generally equally spaced from all ofthe other loops 14. In addition, in one embodiment of the invention asshown, no two finger loops 14 lie on a common diameter of the coresection 12.

The configuration of finger loops about the core section 12 as describedabove provides a device which, when fit over the digits of one hand,exercises certain portions of the hand when the digits of the hand areseparated against the tension of the various components of the device11. A different spacing of the finger loops 14 about the core section 12would provide a different exercise for a hand. A simple exercise for anytwo digits of a hand is provided by the core section 12 which issufficiently elastic to permit two digits inserted in the space 13 to beseparated against tension of the core section 12 and thereby perform anexercise function.

The amount of force required to conduct any exercise performed with thedevice 11 is a function of the elasticity of the materials used for eachcomponent, as well as the size of the core section 12. By adjustingthese variables, those skilled in the art are able to provide a device11 which best matches the needs of an individual hand and its malady.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, in an alternative embodiment of theinvention, the finger loops 14 are attached to the core section 15 byconnection arms 16 at generally equally spaced locations about the coresection 15. The five finger loops 14 provide an exercise device wherebyall, or less than all, of the digits of a hand can be engaged at thesame time, depending on the exercise required. The different spacing offinger loops 14 about the core section 15 in the embodiment of FIGS. 5and 6, as compared to the embodiment of FIGS. 1-4, causes differentforces to be applied to a hand and its digits when they work against therestraints of the device.

The core section 15 is a right cylinder of uniform height.

Referring to FIGS. 7-10, in another embodiment of the invention, theelastic core section 22 has a generally elliptical shape in its relaxedstate and two of the finger loops 23 and 24 lie along the major axis 26of the elliptical-shaped core section 22. The space 25 within anddefined by core section 22 is large enough to receive two or more digitsof a hand and elastic enough to be stretchable by separating the digits.It will occur to those skilled in the art that the arrangement of fingerloops about the core section 22, as shown in FIG. 7, can be duplicatedin embodiments having a core section with a circular cross-section, asshown in FIGS. 1 and 5. The embodiment of FIG. 7 is particularly wellsuited for a two-digit exercise wherein the digits are secured in fingerloops 23 and 24.

The connecting arms 20 attaching each finger loop 23, 24, 27, 28 and 29to core section 22 have a generally circular cross-section (see FIG.10).

Referring to FIGS. 11 and 13, in yet another embodiment of theinvention, an exercise device 35 has a generally v-shaped web member 31connected to core section 32 within the space 30 surrounded and definedby core section 32. Finger loops 33 are attached by connecting arms 34to core section 32. The v-shaped web member 31 subdivides the space 30within core section 32 into three spaces 30 a, 30 b and 30 c. In thepreferred embodiment, spaces 30 a and 30 b are large enough to receivedigits of a hand which can be exercised by then alternatively separatingand relaxing them against the restraining force of the core section 32.Depending on the stress pattern desired, space 30 c can be left empty orfilled in with elastic material. The web member 31 creates a differentresistance pattern for the device 35 than, for example, the device ofthe embodiment of FIG. 7, which has no internal web member in its corespace 25. By carefully engineering the characteristics of the web member31, it is possible to create an exercise device that distributes forcesthat specifically meet the needs of a particular hand and/or digitmalady.

Referring to FIG. 14, another embodiment of the invention includes aplurality of elastic finger loops 41 connected to an elastic coresection 42 that defines and surrounds an open space 43. The finger loops41 are disposed about the core section 42 and attached thereto byelastic connecting arms 44. In this embodiment, the finger loops areshown as having a generally circular shape, although it will be obviousto those skilled in the art that finger loops having a generallyelliptical shape could be substituted. The space 43 in core section 42is not designed to receive digits, but plays an important function, asdo all of the spaces within core sections in the various embodimentsdescribed above.

By providing a core section having an internal open space, together withindividual connecting arms between the finger loops and core section, ashas been described in connection with each of the embodiments, theforces applied on these components, and thus on the digits beingexercised, are more evenly distributed, producing a better exercise andreducing the failure rate of components of the device.

Of course, various changes, modifications and alterations in theteachings of the present invention may be contemplated by those skilledin the art without departing from the intended spirit and scope thereof.As such, it is intended that the present invention only be limited bythe terms of the appended claims.

1. A finger exercise device, comprising: a core section of elasticmaterial surrounding and defining an open space; a plurality of elasticfinger loops separate from and disposed about said core section andsized to receive digits of a hand; and an elastic connection armextending between each of said finger loops and said core sectionwhereby said finger loops are attached to said core section.
 2. Thefinger exercise device of claim 1 wherein; said open space of said coresection is large enough to receive two digits of one hand at the sametime and elastic enough to permit said core section to be stretched byspreading the digits so inserted.
 3. The finger exercise device of claim1 wherein each said elastic finger loop has a relaxed state when noforce is applied to distort its shape and said elastic finger loop has agenerally elliptical shape when in its relaxed state.
 4. The fingerexercise device of claim 1 wherein said opening in said core section hasa relaxed state when no force is applied to distort its shape and saidopening has a generally elliptical shape when in its relaxed state. 5.The finger exercise device of claim 1 wherein said opening in said coresection has a relaxed state when no force is applied to distort itsshape and said opening has a generally circular shape when in itsrelaxed state.
 6. The finger exercise device of claim 1 wherein saidfinger loops are non-symmetrically disposed about said core section. 7.The finger exercise device of claim 1 wherein a plurality of said fingerloops are disposed along one-half of the perimeter of said core sectionand one finger loop is disposed along the other half of the perimeter ofsaid core section.
 8. The finger exercise device of claim 7 wherein notwo of said finger loops disposed about said core section lie on acommon diameter.
 9. The finger exercise device of claim 1 wherein aplurality of said finger loops are generally equally spaced about saidcore section.
 10. The finger exercise device of claim 9 wherein no twoof said finger loops disposed about said core section lie on a commondiameter.
 11. The finger exercise device of claim 4 further comprisingan elastic web member affixed to said core section within said openspace.
 12. The finger exercise device of claim 11 wherein said webmember has a generally V-shape.
 13. The finger exercise device of claim1 wherein a plurality of said finger loops are disposed about said coresection, with a first two of said finger loops disposed in opposition ona common diameter of said opening of said core section, a second two ofsaid finger loops disposed between said first two finger loops on oneside of said opening in said core section and one finger loop disposedbetween said first two finger loops on the other side of said opening insaid core section.
 14. The finger exercise device of claim 11 wherein aplurality of said finger loops are disposed about said core section,with a first two of said finger loops disposed in opposition on a commondiameter of said opening of said core section, a second two of saidfinger loops disposed between said first two finger loops on one side ofsaid opening in said core section and one finger loop disposed betweensaid first two finger loops on the other side of said opening in saidcore section.
 15. The finger exercise device of claim 1 wherein saidcore section has a non-uniform cross-section whereby its elasticity isnon-isotropic.